Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attend a joint news conference in Jerusalem, July 25, 2006. Rice arrived in Jerusalem on July 24 to make diplomatic efforts for an ¡°urgent ceasefire¡± between Israel and Lebanon.(Xinhua Photo)

    "We are using the basic right of self-defense," Olmert told reporters before a meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was on a visit to the Middle East region to defuse the escalating crisis in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

    The prime minister said that he noticed "humanitarian difficulties" caused by Israel's two-week military offensive in Lebanon, pledging to work with the U.S. to help solve it.

    Rice again expressed the need to create conditions for a sustainable cease-fire.

    She will also meet with Defense Minister Amir Peretz before going to Ramallah for a meeting with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

    On Monday night, Rice met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni upon arriving in Jerusalem from Beirut, underlining the importance to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

    "We are concerned about the humanitarian situation," she said. "And nobody wants to see when innocent civilians are harmed." "Any peace is going to have to be based on enduring principles and not on temporary solutions," said Rice.

    Describing Rice's visit as "very important", Livni reiterated that Israel had the right to protect its citizens. Livni said that Israel would only agree to a cease-fire that included the release of two soldiers that Hezbollah kidnapped on July 12, the dismantling of Hezbollah and the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.

    Rice arrived in Jerusalem on Monday night after she paid a surprise visit to Beirut for talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Enditem

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